SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

 

It's finally here and the Multiverse within the MCU is wide open in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the third solo film (if you can call them that) for Tom Holland's titular hero. Delays have only allowed more time for speculation to exactly who or what will appear in this film and it's hard to argue that the anticipation levels for the film have reached an all-time high, barring Infinity War and Endgame, for the MCU. 

After Peter Parker's (Tom Holland) identity as Spider-Man was exposed by Mysterio at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, his life and reputation are turned upside down. Parker asks Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to help restore his secret identity with magic, but this breaks open the multiverse, allowing five supervillains from alternate realities who previously fought other versions of Spider-Man to arrive.

There is so much to unpack from No Way Home as Jon Watts closes his trilogy for the character with the most ambitious story within a Spider-Man film to date. The MCU has always taken pride in going big and delivering cinematic moments for fans to treasure forever and there's plenty of those scattered throughout No Way Home. Watts wanted to do the high school years of Peter Parker as old school teen comedies crossed with the superhero formula, Homecoming and Far From Home capturing that essence perfectly, but this film is a lot more mature and takes the character to a darker place than ever seen before for this iteration. 

It's a film packed full of emotion and pulsating action that spins a web of Mulitiversal villains and personal stakes that really do make it such compelling viewing. It does feel a little messy throughout however, the juggling act that Watts pulls off in a coherent manner with this film is something that can only be admired. Pairing our hero with Doctor Strange for large parts of the film's opening act opens the door for some inventive visuals that I'll never tire of seeing when the Sorcerer Supreme graces the screen.

No Way Home will be accused of being nothing but fan service with all the previous villains brought back to cause mayhem yet, when fan service is done this well and is more than just a quick glimpse of an old character or two, it's hard not to get wrapped up in the emotion of the occasion and feel the adrenalin of the audience. Lizard (still not a fan of his look), Sandman, Electro, Doc Ock and Green Goblin are all back and get their moments to put Holland's Spider-Man through the ringer. Alfred Molina is a delight yet again as Doc Ock but Willem Dafoe is the one who threatens to steal the whole damn show as Green Goblin, so good as the tortured and psychopathic soul intent on inflicting maximum pain on Spider-Man. 

Tom Holland has been someone I've always championed as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, growing throughout the trilogy into the role, and he's at his absolute best here. The sheer amount of emotion and vulnerability he brings to both Parker and Spider-Man here makes him feel so relatable, which is what makes Spider-Man such a popular character, and you have to remember this version is still just a kid after all. Zendaya and Marisa Tomei get much more to do than ever before here, the former showing plenty of range as more than just a damsel in distress while the latter is involved in a moment that fans of the MCU Spider-Man will never forget. 

The stakes have never been higher in a Spider-Man film and the landscape has totally changed for Peter Parker/Spider-Man as he sets off for college life. The final moments of Spider-Man: No Way Home are what a lot of people have been waiting for when it comes to the character within the MCU and I for one could not be more excited for where they go with it.

Verdict: ★★★★½